Method and system for close proximity collision detection

• US 9,927,520 B1
• Filed: 07/23/2015
• Issued: 03/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
• Original Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
• Inventors: Ward, Aaron J., Jarrell, Matthew David
• Primary Examiner(s): Brainard, Timothy A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Malley, Sr., Daniel P
• Application Number:
  US14/807,217
• Time in Patent Office: 978 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/86 Combinations of radar systems with non-radar systems, e.g. sonar, direction finder
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/862 Combination of radar systems with sonar systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/937 of marine craft
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/87 Combinations of sonar systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/93 for anti-collision purposes

Abstract

A method of detecting a collision of the marine vessel includes sensing using distance sensors to determine whether an object is within a predefined distance of a marine vessel, and determining a direction of the object with respect to the marine vessel. The method further includes receiving a propulsion control input at a propulsion control input device, and determining whether execution of the propulsion control input will result in any portion of the marine vessel moving toward the object. A collision warning is then generated.

Claims

1. A method of detecting a collision of a marine vessel, the method comprising:

sensing using distance sensors whether an object is within a predetermined distance of a marine vessel;

determining a direction of the object with respect to the marine vessel;

receiving a propulsion control input at a propulsion control input device;

if the object is within the predetermined distance, determining whether execution of the propulsion control input will move any portion of the marine vessel in the direction of the object;

generating a collision warning only if execution of the propulsion control input will move any portion of the marine vessel in the direction of the object; and

wherein generating the collision warning includes illuminating an indicator light; and

wherein the indicator light is an illuminable ring on the propulsion control input device, and wherein the step of illuminating the indicator light includes illuminating a portion of the illuminable ring corresponding to the direction of the object with respect to the marine vessel.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein generating a collision warning includes generating an auditory warning.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the collision warning further includes generating a vibration in the propulsion control input device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined distance is less than ten feet.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined distance is less than five feet.

6. A system for detecting a collision in a marine vessel, the system comprising:

a propulsion control input device that receives input from an operator to control propulsion of a marine vessel;

at least one distance sensor that senses a distance of an object from the marine vessel;

a control unit operably connected to the propulsion control input device and the at least one distance sensor;

wherein the control unit determines if the distance of the object is less than a predetermined distance and determines a direction of the object with respect to the marine vessel;

if the object is within the predetermined distance, the control unit further determines whether execution of the propulsion control input will result in a collision;

a collision warning indicator operably connected to the control unit, wherein the control unit controls the collision warning indicator to provides a collision warning only if execution of the propulsion control input will result in a collision;

wherein the propulsion control input device is a joystick device, and wherein the collision warning indicator is an indicator light on the joystick device that illuminates to provide the collision warning; and

wherein the indicator light is an illuminable ring on the propulsion control input device having separately-illuminable portions, and wherein the collision warning includes illumination of a portion of the illuminable ring corresponding to the direction of the object with respect to the marine vessel.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the at least one distance sensor is one of a radar sensor and an ultrasonic sensor.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the collision warning indicator further includes an electronic display on the marine vessel operable to display a visual collision warning.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the collision warning indicator further includes an indicator light on a dash of the marine vessel that illuminates to provide the collision warning.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the collision warning indicator further includes a vibration device that vibrates the propulsion control input device to provide the collision warning.

11. The system of claim 6, wherein the collision warning indicator further includes a speaker that emits an auditory collision warning.

12. The system of claim 6, wherein the predetermined distance is less than five feet.

13. A method of detecting a collision of a marine vessel, the method comprising:

sensing using distance sensors whether an object is within a predetermined distance of a marine vessel;

determining a direction of the object with respect to the marine vessel;

receiving a propulsion control input at a propulsion control input device;

comparing, at a control unit, the propulsion control input to the predetermined distance and the direction of the object;

determining at the control unit whether execution of the propulsion control input will result in a collision; and

generating a collision warning by illuminating a portion of illuminable ring on the propulsion control input device corresponding to the direction of the object with respect to the marine vessel.